Combination dress shirt and undergarment

ABSTRACT

An undergarment, comprising: a collar portion made of a first dress shirt material; an upper shirt portion having a front upper shirt portion and a back upper short portion attached to the collar portion, the upper shirt portion made of a first dress shirt material, the front upper shirt portion being generally u-shaped and the back upper shirt portion being above the height of the underarm of the wearer; a lower body portion having a front and back, the lower body portion made of second fabric material.

The present invention relates to garments and in particular upper bodygarments and undergarments.

In the apparel industry, dress shirts are worn by most individuals inthe work place and recreationally under suits and sweaters. They arefrequently bulky, itchy, too warm and uncomfortable. Also, it isexpensive dry cleaning shirts for each wear. Accordingly, the presentinvention solves each of these problems.

Another issue the present invention is intended to address is bodysmoothing. The stomach area is a common “problem area” for men andwomen. Currently, body smoothing undergarments must be worn in additionto the dress shirt. When trying to achieve body slimming, adding anotherbulky layer as in standard dress shirts is not desirable. Also, theshape of dress shirts when worn under a sweater and suit jackets isbulky and does not create a desirable silhouette.

Finally, a problem with shirts worn under sweaters and jackets is thatthey may not stay put (either riding up or having shirt tails hangingout).

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdescription and claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to garments and in particular upper bodygarments and undergarments.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an undergarment isprovided, comprising: a collar portion made of a first dress shirtmaterial; an upper shirt portion having a front upper shirt portion anda back upper short portion attached to the collar portion, the uppershirt portion made of said first dress shirt material, the front uppershirt portion being generally u-shaped and the back upper shirt portionbeing above the height of the underarm of the wearer; a lower bodyportion having a front and back, the lower body portion made of secondfabric material.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an undergarment isprovided, comprising: a collar portion made of a first dress shirtmaterial; an upper shirt portion having a front upper shirt portion anda back upper short portion attached to the collar portion, the uppershirt portion made of a first dress shirt material, the front uppershirt portion being generally u-shaped and the back upper shirt portionbeing above the height of the underarm of the wearer; a lower bodyportion having a front and back, the lower body portion made of secondwicking fabric material; a left sleeve portion and a right sleeveportion in communication with the lower body portion, wherein the leftsleeve portion and right sleeve portion are made of a second wickingfabric material.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdescription and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts the present invention;

FIG. 4 depicts the present invention; and

FIG. 5 depicts the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be takenin a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustratingthe general principles of the invention, since the scope of theinvention is best defined by the appended claims.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an undergarment(10) is provided comprising: a collar portion (12) made of a first dressshirt material; an upper shirt portion (14) having a front upper shirtportion (16) and a back upper short portion (18) attached to the collarportion (12), the upper shirt portion (14) made of the first dress shirtmaterial, the front upper shirt portion being generally u-shaped and theback upper shirt portion (18) being above the height of the underarm ofthe wearer and below the shoulders of the wearer; a lower body portion(20) having a front lower body portion (22) and back lower body portion(24), the lower body portion (20) is made of a second fabric material,which may be a wicking fabric material. It should be understood that theterm upper shirt portion (14) refers to both the front upper shirtportion (16) and a back upper short portion (18). The front upper shirtportion (16) and back upper short portion (18) may be separate pieces ora single piece with different portions. Similarly the lower body portion(20) includes the front lower body portion (22) and back lower bodyportion (24), which may be separate pieces of fabric or a single pieceof fabric with separate portions. There may also, optionally, besleeves. As shown, there may be a left sleeve portion (28) and a rightsleeve portion (26) in communication with the lower body portion (20).The left sleeve portion (28) and right sleeve portion (26) are made ofthe second wicking fabric material. As shown, the front upper shirtportion is generally u shaped. This is important, as it is important thefront upper shirt portion gives the appearance of a full dress shirt.Accordingly, it must dip in the front low enough to accommodate asweater (for example a v-neck sweater) worn over the undergarment (10)such that the upper shirt portion (14) and collar portion (12) are theonly parts that can be seen and are made to look like a dress shirt. Thefirst dress shirt material may be between 93 and 97 percent polyester,preferably 95 percent polyester and between 3 and 7 percent elastane,preferably 5 percent elastane. The term elastane refers to spandex,which may be sold under the brand name Elaspan®. Elaspan® is utilized incircular knit, weaving, covering, and other textile applications wherefabric stretch and recovery is required. ELASPAN® fiber can be found inhosiery, denim (such as stretch jeans), intimate apparel (underwear,bras, etc), sportswear, and ready-to-wear garments such as shirts anddresses. Stretch solutions obtained with ELASPAN® spandex provide bothhighly desired comfort for the consumers, and superior technical qualityat a competitive cost for the textile fabrics manufacturers. Elastane isa synthetic fiber known for its exceptional elasticity. It is strongerand more durable than rubber, its major non-synthetic competitor. It isa polyurethane-polyurea copolymer that was invented in 1959 by chemistJoseph Shivers at DuPont's Benger Laboratory in Waynesboro, Va. Thematerial was patented by the Spanjian brothers—Robert and Richard—andwas further used in their company, Spanjian Sportwear. When firstintroduced, it revolutionized many areas of the clothing industry. Theproduct name “Spandex” was given to the Spanjian family after DuPontrecognized their contributions. “Spandex” is the preferred name in NorthAmerica; in many European countries it is referred to as “elastane”. Abrand name associated with spandex is Lycra®. A suitable second fabricmaterial may be a 60 denier LYCRA®. Denier is a unit of measure for thelinear mass density of fibers. It is defined as the mass in grams per9,000 meters. The first dress shirt material may also be “no-iron”material, reducing the need for dry cleaning.

The lower body portion second fabric material may be a seemlesscircularly knit two-ply fabric, which provides body smoothingproperties. Accordingly, the portion that would be hidden under asweater or suit jacket would be body slimming, reduce the bulkiness of astandard dress shirt, prevent sweat and may even have anti-bacterialproperties. At least a portion of the lower body portion may have avertical rib knit construction (48), this may provide additional bodysmoothing properties. A preferred knit construction is a 1×1 rib knit.The second wicking fabric material may be any fabric known to havewicking properties. Wicking fabrics are fabrics that actually liftmoisture away from the skin. Wicking fabrics have been engineered withwater-resistant coatings and a system of fibers that work likecapillaries to carry water. Regular fabric—like cotton—soaks up waterlike a sponge, allowing water to penetrate all of its fibers. When thathappens, you end up with a heavy, soaking wet shirt that sticks to yourskin. But wicking fabrics, which are usually 80 to 90 percent polyester,are made of fibers that are designed to act like the capillaries in yourbody. When moisture builds up in the fabric, the fibers have the abilityto transfer the water to a drier portion of the fabric without absorbingit-thanks to the water-resistant coating. Instead of getting bogged downwith sweat, the fabric can stay drier and lighter. The present inventionutilizes wicking fabrics in the portions of the body that typically mayget sweaty or be wet, which is usually the back and underarms. However,the upper portion is a material that looks like a dress shirt, so thewearer can have a professional appearance and simultaneously avoidwetness. Some wicking fabrics even have a special dimpled feature thatcreates puckers in the fabric. These puckers act as small air bubbles,allowing more air to circulate over your skin and carry sweat away. Morethan any other type of fabric, wicking fabrics can actually provide acooling effect during workouts. According to one embodiment the secondwicking fabric material is between 80 and 90 percent polyester withnano-silver, preferably 87 percent polyester with nano-silver andbetween 10 and 20 percent elastane, preferably 13 percent elastane.Wicking fabrics may be sold under the brand names COOLMAX® andCLEANCOOL®. CLEANCOOL®, one wicking fabric material, is a multi-channelfiber that moves moisture from skin to the outer layer of the fabricfaster than any other fabric (120 mm in 10 minutes). It also hasanti-bacterial properties with nano-silver contained in the fabric, thefabric eliminates germs. It does not harm the human body and theanti-bacterial effect is almost permanent. It eliminates 99.9% of germsin 30 minutes.

According to one embodiment, the lower body portion may further comprisea front crotch portion (30) and a back crotch portion (32) the frontcrotch portion (30) being removably attachable to the back crotch (32)portion by an attachment means (34). Attachment means may be snap, hook,VELCRO®, hook and loop fastener, tie, or similar device.

According to another embodiment, the left sleeve and right sleeve arelong sleeves and there is a left cuff portion (40) in communication withthe left sleeve portion (28) and a right cuff portion (42) incommunication with the right sleeve portion (26), the left cuff portion(40) and the right cuff portion (42) being made of the first dress shirtmaterial. The left cuff portion and right cuff portion should look likea dress shirt, it may be a regular cuff or a french cuff. The leftsleeve portion and right sleeve portion may be seemless circularly knittwo-ply fabric or any other body smoothing fabric, the left sleeveportion and right sleeve portion may also have a rib knit construction.This may provide body smoothing properties as well as keep the shirt putand prevent movement. There may be additional control panels sewn indesired areas. For example, the front stomach area may have a controlpanel of two-ply fabric sewn in. There may also be a ruffle portion (50)in communication with the front upper shirt portion (16).

It should be understood that the foregoing relates to preferredembodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in thefollowing claims.

1. An undergarment, comprising: a collar portion made of a first dressshirt material; an upper shirt portion having a front upper shirtportion and a back upper short portion attached to said collar portion,said upper shirt portion made of said first dress shirt material, saidfront upper shirt portion being generally u-shaped and said back uppershirt portion being above the height of the underarm of the wearer; alower body portion having a front and back, said lower body portion madeof second fabric material.
 2. An undergarment as in claim 1, furthercomprising a left sleeve portion and a right sleeve portion incommunication with said lower body portion, wherein said left sleeveportion and right sleeve portion are made of said second fabricmaterial.
 3. An undergarment as in claim 1, wherein said first dressshirt material is between 93 and 97 percent polyester, preferably 95percent polyester and between 3 and 7 percent elastane, preferably 5percent elastane.
 4. An undergarment as in claim 1, wherein said secondfabric material is a second wicking fabric material and is between 80and 90 percent polyester with nano-silver, preferably 87 percentpolyester with nano-silver and between 10 and 20 percent elastane,preferably 13 percent elastane.
 5. An undergarment as in claim 1, saidlower body portion further comprising a front crotch portion and a backcrotch portion said front crotch portion being removably attachable tosaid back crotch portion by an attachment means.
 6. An undergarment asin claim 2, further comprising a left cuff portion in communication withsaid left sleeve portion and a right cuff portion in communication withsaid right sleeve portion, said left cuff portion and said right cuffportion being made of said first dress shirt material.
 7. Anundergarment as in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said lowerbody portion is a seemless circularly knit two-ply fabric.
 8. Anundergarment as in claim 1, wherein said lower body portion having avertical rib knit construction.
 9. An undergarment as in claim 1,wherein said left sleeve portion and said right sleeve portion are eachseemless circularly knit two-ply fabric.
 10. An undergarment as in claim1, said left sleeve portion and said right sleeve portion having a ribknit construction.
 11. An undergarment as in claim 1, further comprisinga ruffle portion in communication with said front upper shirt portion.12. An undergarment as in claim 1, wherein said second fabric materialsis anti-bacterial.
 13. An undergarment, comprising: a collar portionmade of a first dress shirt material; an upper shirt portion having afront upper shirt portion and a back upper short portion attached tosaid collar portion, said upper shirt portion made of said first dressshirt material, said front upper shirt portion being generally u-shapedand said back upper shirt portion being above the height of the underarmof the wearer; a lower body portion having a front and back, said lowerbody portion made of second wicking fabric material; a left sleeveportion and a right sleeve portion in communication with said lower bodyportion, wherein said left sleeve portion and right sleeve portion aremade of said second wicking fabric material.
 14. An undergarment as inclaim 13, wherein said first dress shirt material is between 93 and 97percent polyester, preferably 95 percent polyester and between 3 and 7percent elastane, preferably 5 percent elastane.
 15. An undergarment asin claim 13, wherein said second wicking fabric material and is between80 and 90 percent polyester with nano-silver, preferably 87 percentpolyester with nano-silver and between 10 and 20 percent elastane,preferably 13 percent elastane.
 16. An undergarment as in claim 13, saidlower body portion further comprising a front crotch portion and a backcrotch portion said front crotch portion being removably attachable tosaid back crotch portion by an attachment means.
 17. An undergarment asin claim 13, further comprising a left cuff portion in communicationwith said left sleeve portion and a right cuff portion in communicationwith said right sleeve portion, said left cuff portion and said rightcuff portion being made of said first dress shirt material.
 18. Anundergarment as in claim 13, wherein said lower body portion is aseemless circularly knit two-ply fabric.
 19. An undergarment as in claim13, wherein at least a portion of said lower body portion having avertical rib knit construction.
 20. An undergarment as in claim 13,wherein said left sleeve portion and said right sleeve portion are eachseemless circularly knit two-ply fabric.
 21. An undergarment as in claim13, wherein at least a portion of said left sleeve portion and saidright sleeve portion have a rib knit construction.
 22. An undergarmentas in claim 13, further comprising a ruffle portion in communicationwith said front upper shirt portion.
 23. An undergarment as in claim 13,wherein said second wicking fabric materials is anti-bacterial.